The Blue Fairy Book eBook

Sir Richard many years before his death constantly
fed a great number of poor citizens, built a church
and a college to it, with a yearly allowance for poor
scholars, and near it erected a hospital.

He also built Newgate for criminals, and gave liberally
to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and other public
charities.

THE WONDERFUL SHEEP

Once upon a time—­in the days when the fairies
lived—­there was a king who had three daughters,
who were all young, and clever, and beautiful; but
the youngest of the three, who was called Miranda,
was the prettiest and the most beloved.

The King, her father, gave her more dresses and jewels
in a month than he gave the others in a year; but she
was so generous that she shared everything with her
sisters, and they were all as happy and as fond of
one another as they could be.

Now, the King had some quarrelsome neighbors, who,
tired of leaving him in peace, began to make war upon
him so fiercely that he feared he would be altogether
beaten if he did not make an effort to defend himself.
So he collected a great army and set off to fight them,
leaving the Princesses with their governess in a castle
where news of the war was brought every day—­sometimes
that the King had taken a town, or won a battle, and,
at last, that he had altogether overcome his enemies
and chased them out of his kingdom, and was coming
back to the castle as quickly as possible, to see his
dear little Miranda whom he loved so much.

The three Princesses put on dresses of satin, which
they had had made on purpose for this great occasion,
one green, one blue, and the third white; their jewels
were the same colors. The eldest wore emeralds,
the second turquoises, and the youngest diamonds,
and thus adorned they went to meet the King, singing
verses which they had composed about his victories.

When he saw them all so beautiful and so gay he embraced
them tenderly, but gave Miranda more kisses than either
of the others.

Presently a splendid banquet was served, and the King
and his daughters sat down to it, and as he always
thought that there was some special meaning in everything,
he said to the eldest:

“Tell me why you have chosen a green dress.”

“Sire,” she answered, “having heard
of your victories I thought that green would signify
my joy and the hope of your speedy return.”

“That is a very good answer,” said the
King; “and you, my daughter,” he continued,
“why did you take a blue dress?”

“Sire,” said the Princess, “to show
that we constantly hoped for your success, and that
the sight of you is as welcome to me as the sky with
its most beautiful stars.”

“Why,” said the King, “your wise
answers astonish me, and you, Miranda. What made
you dress yourself all in white?